Completing 100 days of school is certainly something to celebrate! This post covers 20 ideas to commemorate all the progress students have made so far in the year.
The 100th day of school is an exciting day for teachers, students, and room parents. Since most academic years typically last about 180 school days, it means the students have made it more than halfway through the year. The 100th day falls after the winter holidays, usually sometime in February.
A 100th day of school event or celebration is particularly great for younger students who are learning how to count. After all, one of the best ways to take advantage of this momentous day is to make it both fun and educational.
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100 Days of School Ideas: 20 Activities to Help Celebrate
Celebrating the 100th day of school is a great way to mark time passing and give students a chance to reflect on everything they’ve accomplished that year so far.
There are probably more than a 100 ways to celebrate 100 days of school, but we’ve gathered up some of the best ideas so that you can pick one easily and get started on planning your 100th day of school event.
100 Yummy Things
A delicious way to celebrate 100 days of school is by showing students just how much or how little 100 individual things can be by using yummy items like candy, fruit snacks, or salty nibbles.
Fill jars or containers with things like 100 jelly beans, 100 sandwich crackers, or 100 apples. Kids will see how the size of 100 items can differ depending on the dimensions of the snack.
The best part is that the students can have a delicious snack to munch on while they learn about numbers and counting. It’s a win-win situation for the kids and the teachers.
Estimation Activity
This activity is a great way to teach kids how to make good observations and form educated guesses. You can use snacks like jelly beans or non-food items like marbles for this one. Simply set up a series of jars with varying amounts of an item in each.
For example, one jar could have 50 marbles, another could have 100, and a third could have 200. It’s up to you how many jars/options you want to give the kids. Ask students to estimate which jar holds exactly 100 marbles and watch their faces light up with fascination whether they guess correctly or not!
Fingerprint Gumball Machine
An amazing way to let kids be artistic and practice counting skills at the same time, a fingerprint gum ball machine is a fun craft project to mark 100 days of school.
Provide students with this free printable 100th day of school gumball machine worksheet. Then, instruct students to use the tips of their fingers dipped in their color choice of paint to count out 100 gumballs in the “machine.”
Another easy variation is to take a paper plate and use that as the plate as the gum ball holder. You can have the students make the base for their gum ball machine by cutting out a simple trapezoid shape and using staples or glue to attach it to the plate.
Here’s an example my daughter made in Kindergarten:
Once the paint dries, hang them up for display so students can admire how their unique fingerprint gum ball machine differs from their classmates.
Bring in 100 of an Item
A twist on the traditional show-and-tell type of event, encourage students to bring in 100 of an item.
Of course, you should ensure that they (and their parents) know to keep the item at a reasonable overall size and type. For example, 100 fish could get messy and stinky, but 100 aquarium pebbles would be perfect!
Depending on what 100 items each student brings in, the variety of 100 items can be very fun and exciting for the kids and give them an opportunity to bond with each other in a new way.
List of 100 Words to be Sorted Alphabetically
This activity is a fantastic opportunity to teach young students about numbers and the alphabet at the same time. The format of the activity is up to you, but the general premise is for students to come up with 100 unique words that they will then need to work together to accurately alphabetize.
This 100 days of school activity will also teach students the importance of teamwork and collaboration. It’s also a great opportunity to sneak vocabulary and spelling words into the lesson for extra practice while having fun.
Dress Up as a 100 Year Old for 100 Days of School
Guaranteed to result in a lot of laughter, instruct students to come dressed to the 100th day of school as a 100 year old. You’ll be surprised how creative some students and their parents will get to look like an old man or old lady!
Some kids may show up with silver wigs and walking canes, while others might get super creative and dress up like their grandparents or even a historical figure from 100 years ago.
Here’s my daughter dressed as a 100-year-old for her Kindergarten school year.
Another variation on this is to take photos of the students and apply an “old man” or “old lady” filter like this one:
To add the old lady (or old man) filter, you can use the “Old” filter on Snapchat or use an app like FaceApp.
Make Pictures Using the Digits of 100
This is another one of those activities where students can really let their creativity run wild. Provide students with paper, various art supplies, and construction cut-outs of the digits 1 0 0. Ask them to create a unique picture with the digits and the supplies provided.
Watch students come up with a variety of funny animals, unique inventions, and alien-like creatures!
Build a Structure with 100 Cups
An opportunity to teach basic physics and engineering principles, this 100 days of school activity will also encourage collaboration with classmates. Bring in paper or plastic cups and ask them to help you count out exactly 100 of them in order to build your structure like this one by FrugalFun4Boys.
This activity can either be done together as a whole class or you can split the students up into teams and encourage healthy competition by offering an exciting prize (like 100 M;Ms or 100 Skittles) to the team that creates the most impressive 100-cup structure.
100th Day of School Scavenger Hunt
Encourage students to be adventurous and detail-oriented by holding a school scavenger hunt and providing them with a list of 100 items to locate. A good tip for this event is to keep the items simple and relatively easy to find, since asking kids to locate 100 items could otherwise potentially take all day (or even longer). Split students into partners or small teams to encourage cooperation.
For younger students who might not be skilled readers yet, use pictures instead of words on the scavenger hunt list.
Door Decoration with 100
This is a great way for each individual class/classroom to show their unique personality. Using the digits of 100 and/or 100 things like pipe cleaners or pom-poms, instruct students to decorate classroom doors.
Hold a school-wide competition for the most impressive door decoration and reward the student designers with a fun prize.
100 Actions for 100 Days
Encourage students to be active by having them participate in 100 actions to celebrate 100 days of schools. The best way to lead this activity is to split 10 different activities up into 10 actions. For example, 10 jumping jacks, 10 push ups, 10 high fives, 10 sit ups, etc. This is a great way to get kids moving!
Use this free 100 Actions printable to keep the activity on track.
100 Actions 100th: Day of School Activities Download
For older students who might have a little more stamina, you can also hold a friendly competition to see which students can do 100 of one action, such as 100 jumping jacks total or 100 jump rope hops at once.
100th Day Cookies
Satisfy the students’ sweet tooth by holding a cookie decorating event. Pre-bake or purchase sugar cookies ahead of time and then distribute one to each student, instructing them to decorate it according to the 100th day theme.
The best part is that, once they’re finished creating their delicious cookie art pieces, they get to have a yummy snack!
100 Piece Puzzle
Bring in a variety of 100-piece puzzles for the students to choose from and have them work together in teams to complete them.
100-piece puzzles are not only on-theme for this event, but they’re also a little bit easy for young kids to put together than puzzles with more pieces. Give rewards to students or teams that complete puzzles the fastest!
I wish I have 100 ___ because ___.
This writing prompt activity is a good opportunity for kids to practice sentence structure, spelling, and handwriting. Provide them with the free printable worksheet linked below. It leaves plenty of space for them to write in what they wish they had 100 of and why.
NOTE: Younger students (Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st grade) can use the drawing prompt version where they can draw a picture instead of writing a paragraph.
Get your copy of the free 100th day of school writing prompts here.
After the activity, display the wishes on a wall and let students read what their classmates wished to have 100 of. No doubt there will be plenty of giggles!
100 Things to be Thankful For After 100 Days of School
Although the 100th day of school might not coincide with a holiday like Thanksgiving, this activity is the perfect opportunity to teach the importance of thankfulness year-round. Ask students to tell you or write down what they are thankful and compile a visual list to display for everyone to see.
If your school has more than 100 students, chances are that many of the things the kids are grateful for will overlap, so you can combine those items into one. If your school has less than 100 students, consider supplementing with input from teachers and staff.
100 Balloon Pop
A boisterous, laughter-inducing, high-energy event, a 100 balloon pop is an exciting way to celebrate 100 days of school. Gather students in a large classroom or the school gym and give them 100 inflated balloons.
For added educational value, ask them to work together to count the balloons ahead of time to confirm the amount. Then simply set them loose and see how fast they can all pop 100 balloons!
Here’s what the activity looks like in action (photo by Differentiated Kindergarten).
Make sure you’re aware of any students who might not do so well around loud noises and ensure that you provide them with an alternative activity separate from this one so that they can still participate in an enjoyable way.
If I had $100, I would buy ___.
This 100 days of school activity can be amusing for the teachers because it shows what young kids think $100 is worth, which can occasionally be hilariously off the mark. Some kids make surprisingly accurate guesses at what they can buy for $100, while others tend to underestimate or overestimate (usually the latter).
Regardless of whether a student can actually buy what they wrote down for $100, avoid pointing out any mistakes. Instead, use it as a chance to teach young kids the value of money.
Cookbook of 100 Favorite Recipes
A collaborative project like this one is an undeniably delicious activity. Ask students to bring in the recipe for their favorite meal and compile them into one cookbook that you can print and distribute to the students to take home as an awesome souvenir from their 100th day of school. Better yet, parents will probably be grateful for the new meal inspiration!
Create a 100th Day of School Poster
Relatively simply and easy to accomplish, this crafty activity can allow students to be creative and unique. Instruct them to create posters, either individually or in small groups, that stick to the theme of the 100th day of school.
I love this idea of using a blue poster board cut out like a fish bowl. Carrie at Little Hip Chick created this with her daughter using Goldfish crackers.
When students are finished, have them hang the poster up somewhere in the school as decoration for the rest of the day.
Plus, this activity is easy on the budget because it requires supplies that are likely already available at school.
100 Days of School Class Photo and Celebration
One of the best ways to celebrate 100 days of school is to have a party! Provide snacks and fun games, including any of the smaller activities mentioned previously. At the end of the party, gather students together for a class photo so that they can have a memento from their awesome 100th day of school for years to come.
If you’ve never hosted a classroom party before, don’t worry. Use these templates to get the help, supplies, and monetary support you need:
- How to Ask for Volunteers for a Classroom Party
- Free Email Template: How to Ask Parents for Donations
Conclusion: Celebrating 100 Completed Days of School
Marking the passing of 100 days of school with activities is a great way to boost student morale and excitement for learning when they’ve made it through over half of the school year. Not only is it fun and gives young kids something to look forward to, it’s also a great way to re-energize students without needing a holiday for an excuse.
Particularly for younger students, celebrating the 100th day of school allows them to get a firmer grasp of the concept of time. Not only that, but it presents a unique opportunity to practice their counting and number skills. All in all, there are countless ways to memorialize the 100th day of school; no matter which activities you choose, there’s no doubt your students will have a 100% fun day!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
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Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article "100 Days of School Ideas: 20 Activities to Help Celebrate."
Celebrating 100 Days of School
The article revolves around celebrating the 100th day of school, marking a significant milestone for students. It highlights various activities that can make this day both fun and educational. The main concepts covered in the article include:
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Counting and Estimation - The article suggests using items like jelly beans or marbles to teach students about counting and estimation. Students can estimate the number of items in different jars and develop their observation and guessing skills.
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Art and Crafts - The article encourages students to engage in creative activities like fingerprint gumball machines, creating pictures using the digits of 100, and decorating doors with 100-themed materials. These activities promote artistic expression and fine motor skills.
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Collaboration and Teamwork - Several activities in the article involve teamwork, such as creating a list of 100 words to be sorted alphabetically, building structures with 100 cups, and completing 100-piece puzzles. These activities foster collaboration and teach students the importance of working together.
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Physical Activities - The article suggests engaging students in physical activities like performing 100 actions (e.g., jumping jacks, sit-ups) or participating in a balloon pop event. These activities promote physical fitness and active learning.
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Writing and Reflection - The article includes writing prompts where students express their thoughts on having 100 of something or being thankful for 100 days of school. These activities enhance writing skills and encourage reflection.
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Cooking and Food - The article suggests activities like decorating 100th day cookies and creating a cookbook of 100 favorite recipes. These activities foster creativity, promote culinary skills, and provide an opportunity for students to share their culture and traditions.
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Visual Display - The article recommends creating posters, displaying wishes or gratitude lists, and taking class photos to commemorate the 100th day of school. These visual displays serve as mementos and encourage creativity.
By incorporating these activities, teachers can make the 100th day of school memorable and engaging for students while reinforcing important skills and concepts.
